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Englandcollapsed

December 8, 2009 - Tuesday 

Category: Writing and Poetry

The Fiction

The eyes cannot see

the minds construction of the face
nor the auctions of the heart

pay the dark programs of entertainment

for their own survival
to your body as if it were a bible

flashing through the night’s sky

‘don’t you know there’s a war on’
casualties falling around our feet
like leaves in English desolation

upon a Afghanistan street

picturing desire lies and fable

losing touch with reality

watching the witch trials live on cable
in the name of celebrity
no one knows the rules of engagement anymore

but we will endure the same endgame

the same deceit

we’re searching for devices not defeat

hidden below before they explode into fleeting trees

of dirt sand and limbs

by the roadside

I tell you this is the law

the truth is on the cutting room floor

where the final moments are saved

we are becoming more like characters

based upon real life events

at the heart of this fiction

is the image of our lives

grieving their own disapperance

as we eagerly await the bad news of new chapters

guilt metaphors traditions of tragedy

half-truths and a widow’s dignity

anything to fill this need

for a sense of new meaning

anything for a story forbade

for what I say I make no apology

we have lost our way

to a dead man’s pathology

while we sit at home watching the war

regretting our indecision

on tonight’s television

© John Denny

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J
J Turner

 
Its a modern day war poem with amazing images and a dark undertow

nobody else does stuff like this - bravo!
 
Posted by J on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:10
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Englandcollapsed

 
The Cool Britania quote to this link is there because it is interesting that the decision was made to go to war during the 90s when we had all that Oasis rubbish and Blair ruled like a Monarch - fast forward through time and how things have changed. The decision is perhaps the most significant political event post-Berlin wall as it has re-shaped the the next decade and led to the banking crisis and the state we are in...

 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 12, 2009 - Saturday - 10:32
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Natasha

 
war is futile
 
Posted by Natasha on December 12, 2009 - Saturday - 12:23
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Susan

 
well said
 
Posted by Susan on December 12, 2009 - Saturday - 10:35
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Englandcollapsed

 
The party is over
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 12, 2009 - Saturday - 10:37
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Englandcollapsed

 
Yes its an area i am focussing on at the moment - the horror of modern warfare and the loss of that horror in the way we observe it making it all the more wretched. i guess its 'about' war rather than saying whats right, there is a clear sense here of what is wrong. thanks for the comments again
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:13
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Lucy

 
'the loss of horror'

thats a scary thought. i find your comments almost as deep as your poems!
 
Posted by Lucy on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:44
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Blackbird

 
“Did you ever think about life as a metaphor for television?” ~ Chuck Palahniuk Excellent and so very perceptive. Your rhyme is beautifully sewn through this. Thank you for sharing here.
 
Posted by Blackbird on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:10
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Englandcollapsed

 
that's a great quote and very apt, thanks for your warm words.

much appreciated x
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:11
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Blackbird

 
You bring Orwell to light here.  I am reflecting now on the impact of the media used to present world events.  The internet being a tenuous yet immediate connector between those in the zones of war and those not.  I wonder, has the "tabloid" mentality of so much of "culture" made us voyeurs dipping our fingers eagerly and emotionlessly into the pools of others despair?  I am hoping not...

 
Posted by Blackbird on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:27
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Englandcollapsed

 
this is a point well made and exactly how i was feeling too - hoping its not true too
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:00
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Charlie

 
wow the image of the tree exploding is incredible and took me into another place.

you have a unique gift

well done
 
Posted by Charlie on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:10
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Englandcollapsed

 
thank you Charlie - that image hit me too
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:13
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Lucy

 
this made me shudder. its really good!
 
Posted by Lucy on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:10
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Englandcollapsed

 
thanks Lucy glad for your feedback  i wanted to get through to a wider audience what this war (all war by way of extrapolation) is doing to us
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:15
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Paris

 
I love this John

in some ways I have always seen you as a war poet.

The Fiction is amazing!


 
Posted by Paris on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:27
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Englandcollapsed

 
thanks P, as you know this subject has been on mind a lot recently. i know two people out there at the moment so it haunts me

 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:01
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Paris

 
i saw them talking on the news about the 100th british soldier dying this week.

your poem is very relevant and says a lot about the state we are in
 
P x
 
Posted by Paris on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:26
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J
J Turner

 
beautifully said x
 
Posted by J on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:44
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Englandcollapsed

 
war poetry is by its contemporary nature going to touch on political nerves. I think for me I am more keen to explore the effect the conflict has on the human imagination, the soul, the light that dwells within - i am absorbed in images of what this is doing to the soul the human spirit. the loss of life that empties the heart -  we live in dangerous times.

(it goes without saying we are badly led, as you know i have worked in a high level government department so i have some idea of the way it works)
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:31
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Tara

 
you really do conjure new worlds, your a magician really ;)
 
Posted by Tara on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 20:24
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Englandcollapsed

 
magical realism is the name of my spell
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 20:26
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Lucy

 
A high level government department! which one come on dish the dirt?

what was your role? i take it your out now..
 
Posted by Lucy on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:44
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Englandcollapsed

 
yes I am out now thank God
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:51
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Charlie

 
i bet you could tell some stories, what am i saying you do that already!
 
Posted by Charlie on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:44
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Englandcollapsed

 
the best kept secrets are truths dressed as lies
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:52
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Milan

 
John this is magificient.

'the image of our lives grieving their own disapearance'

this is so profound. you sound like a war poet from the future. a kinda 'anthem for doomed youth' for the 21st century
 
Posted by Milan on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:27
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Englandcollapsed

 
thanks Milan. you very kind to say these things.
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:02
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Milan

 
the dead man's pathology you refer to could that be Bush, Blair or Brown? i love the reference and as Paris says the 100th soldier died this week, its rather sobering
 
Posted by Milan on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:26
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Charlie

 
perhaps its Bush senior?
 
Posted by Charlie on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:44
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Englandcollapsed

 
your very close - is not all war a dead man's pathology?

 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 9, 2009 - Wednesday - 19:32
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Jenny

 
so many moving lines and imagery that i can repeat in my head -you have real talent.

well done

 
Posted by Jenny on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
Jenny your words mean a lot x
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:02
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Jenny

 
not as much as yours dear poet ;)
 
Posted by Jenny on December 10, 2009 - Thursday - 17:14
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Sara

 
This is exceptional. dark and brilliant and made me think a lot about the cost of war.

your a star
 
Posted by Sara on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
if it got you thinking then i have succeeded. thank you Sara

 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:03
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Sara

 
you ever thought of writing a longer form verse your stlye might suit that - i love your work just want some more!
 
Posted by Sara on December 10, 2009 - Thursday - 17:14
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Saul

 
Thought provoking and controversial - a tour de force. magical
 
Posted by Saul on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
thank you! on all counts
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:03
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Michael

 
genius poem full of amazing imagery and enough commentary to inspire a march on Westminster
 
Posted by Michael on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
perhaps this is an alternative to marching  - - another way of protesting!
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:04
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Amy

 
just wanted to say this has got me thinking a lot about what the war means.

your developing a bit of a following too which is well deserved
 
Posted by Amy on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
*blush*
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:04
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Amy

 
no need to be embarressed you deserve the attention sweetie x
 
Posted by Amy on December 10, 2009 - Thursday - 17:14
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Epic

 
love this. really think your special

EM
 
Posted by Epic on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
thanks EM i'm glad you liked it x
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:04
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Sam

 
full of 'English desolation' i shall be thinking about this when the news is on tonight with news of another casualty, your tapping into a heart of darkness here.

x
 
Posted by Sam on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
its almost exactly as if the news feed was on in the background when i wrote this

you are on the right lines...
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 21:05
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Steve

 
really great writing!! The imagery throughout is stunning; simply stunning!!
 
Posted by Steve on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:55
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Englandcollapsed

 
thanks Steve i am so glad you liked it
 
Posted by Englandcollapsed on December 8, 2009 - Tuesday - 20:59
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Englandcollapsed



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